New groundwater health advisory - perfluorinated compounds (PFAS)

Vermont Business Magazine In July of 2018 the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) issued a new Groundwater Health Advisory for five (5) perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). The PFAS compounds include: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). As a result of this Health Advisory the Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategy is being amended to adopt an enforcement standard of 20 parts per trillion (ppt or ng/l) for these substances. That means that the sum of the five PFAS compounds should not exceed 20 ppt in drinking water.EPA has adopted a drinking water health advisory level of 70 ppt for two compounds (PFOA and PFOS).

PFAS compounds are comprised of long carbon chains that are both lipid and water repellent. They are persistent in the environment and do not occur naturally. The stability of these compounds is due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bonds. They can be transported to surface waters and groundwater (as a result of runoff and leaching) and as a result, they can be transported long distances from their source area. They remain persistent in the environment and in the human body for long periods of time.

Teflon manufacturers have been identified as a contributor of these compounds into the environment. However, other sources may include: wire coating facilities; semi-conductor manufacturing; battery manufacturing; firefighting foams; solid waste landfills; electroplaters; specialty and performance coatings; capacitor manufacturing; aircraft turbine manufacturing; impregnated/coated paper products; plastic injection molding; plastic extrusion; paint manufacturers; car washes; and tanneries.

These compounds may be present in drinking water, food, indoor dust and some consumer products including fabric softeners, sunscreens, Gore-tex, cosmetics, food packaging materials, stain resistant carpet treatments, water resistant clothing and cosmetics.

As we read more and more about the identification of these compounds in the environment it is important to understand that almost every American has these compounds in their blood. Health affects need additional study but may include a wide range of affects including increasing cholesterol levels, increase risk of cancer and growth and learning issues for babies and small children.

Contributed by

Martha Roy, Principal | Green Earth Environmental Inc, DBA The Verterre Group